Darren Armstrong won the March 3 Republican primary for NC House District 79,that includes Hyde County, defeating incumbent Rep. Keith Kidwell. Armstrong is unopposed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot and is expected to be sworn in when the new General Assembly convenes. He issued the following statement.
I strongly support the Hyde County Board of Commissioners’ resolution, adopted September 2, 2026, requesting that the General Assembly amend N.C.G.S. § 136-82 to preserve and codify priority boarding for Ocracoke residents on the Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry.
Ocracoke is an isolated, year-round community with no hospital, limited medical and veterinary care, and no large grocery or supply stores. The ferry is the only practical way for residents, teachers, health-care workers, public servants, and small-business owners to get vehicles, supplies, and themselves on and off the island. Priority loading for residents has been in place for about 40 years because it has consistently met the needs of the community. It ensures that the people who live and work on Ocracoke can get to essential services and return home without being routinely delayed by seasonal traffic.
The resolution is measured. It would create a simple residency-based pass—valid driver’s license plus vehicle registered to an Ocracoke address—with a fee only high enough to cover administration. It also directs the Board of Transportation to balance priority traffic with general demand. That is a practical, local solution that protects a working coastal community without shutting visitors out.
Hyde County is part of District 79. I grew up there and look forward to serving its people. When I take my seat, I will work to see this language enacted so Ocracoke families can continue to live and work on their island with reliable and predictable access to the mainland.